As part of the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Countdown to Commencement series, we interviewed a few soon-to-be graduates from our Undergraduate program to learn about their backgrounds, why they chose Scheller, and what they plan to do after the Fall 2021 commencement.
Meet Alan Yadav who is graduating with a concentration in finance and a minor in entrepreneurship.
Where are you from?
Alpharetta, Georgia.
Where did you attend high school?
Pinecrest Academy.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business?
The biggest lesson I learned from studying business is how interconnected the world is. Studying business at Scheller has taught me to look at the world through the lens of various perspectives. With our core classes, each student can evaluate the world from, for example, a finance, operations, marketing, or strategy perspective and learn how different world economies, industries, and companies all link together to create a world of constant transaction and change.
Another important lesson I learned is the value of networking. Networking could be used solely for seeking jobs, but Scheller taught me that networking is so much more. Through networking, I have been able to find mentors who are integral to my professional and personal growth. By networking with alumni and other professionals, I have also learned the value of giving back, and I am excited to help my fellow Jackets after I graduate!
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field?
To a future student who is looking to major in business but hasn’t yet decided on a specific major, my advice would be to absorb the content from all the general core business classes. Scheller’s business administration degree aptly equips every graduate with the fundamental understanding of business—finance, operations, accounting, IT, marketing, etc. By absorbing the content of these fields, you can start to develop your passion in a specific area. The faculty and students at Scheller also are amazing resources to help guide you in your decision, as they provide you with job opportunities and amazing mentors!
As a business student in the heart of Tech Square, how do you think Scheller College embodies the intersection of business and technology?
With Scheller located in Tech Square, there are great networking opportunities with other students, alumni, and potential future employers. By being close to and having a great relationship with nearby employers, Scheller provides so many opportunities including internships, co-ops, projects, etc. With many companies interested in Scheller students, we can have part-time internships during the school year and full-time internships during the summer with all types of companies. Scheller really pieces together business and technology by being right in the heart of Midtown’s biggest industry events such as Venture Atlanta, annual busines/tech conferences, etc. These events plus the Institute’s encouragement of students to build their own dreams through programs like CREATE-X have shown me that Scheller has fully tapped the business and technology resources the city of Atlanta has to offer.
What was your favorite business course?
Hedge Fund Management with Mike Messner and Beth Reynolds. The course was by far was the most useful, insightful, and skills-based course I could have ever experienced at Tech. In one fast-paced semester, we would have to learn how to evaluate companies and industries, create various types of models, analyze financial statements and ratios, and much more. The class structure was modeled like a hedge fund where, as students, we were expected to produce industry reports and give updates on investment ideas. The best part was that we got to interview company executives from NCR, The Coca-Cola Company, and Delta along with economic geniuses like Michael Tennenbaum. This class single-handedly prepared me for going into the financial industry and allowed me to grow my knowledge about the world immensely. I loved this class so much that I even took it twice just to be able to craft investment ideas, interview more company executives, and advance my ability to create equity research reports. After taking the course my first time, I even got to work with Mike and Beth on COVID-19 research on the effects of the Georgia economy through Mike’s Speedwell Foundations grant.
Who is your favorite professor?
Jacqueline Garner is my favorite professor. Coming in as a freshman, she was my first finance professor and taught the intro to financial management class. After taking my first class with her, I would always try to enroll in any class she taught because of her ability to make every topic interesting and applicable. Professor Garner has an uncanny ability to relate with her students to help them succeed. She truly embodies our school motto “Progress and Service.” Professor Garner has been an integral part of my development at Georgia Tech in all aspects—academically, professionally, and mentally. Outside of class, she is an amazing advisor for our Financial Management Association (FMA) chapter and has been at the forefront of helping to spread financial literacy across campus by leveraging her connections to bring in companies and job opportunities for students. My Georgia Tech experience would not have been the same without her guidance and inspiring drive for creating value inside our institution and within the Atlanta community.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business at Scheller?
The biggest surprise in majoring in business at Scheller was the supportive environment. Rather than a competition between peers, I believe Scheller encourages students to build communication and teamwork skills with not only business majors but also engineers and other majors, which is an essential skill to have in the workplace. This camaraderie has been essential to my growth not only as a student but as a person too. The support network Scheller offers is most exemplified through the school’s dedication to help support problems that students are aiming to solve. I was surprised that so many of my Scheller professors would spend hours giving advice on various nonprofit and startup ideas I had throughout my tenure at Tech.
What are some of your extracurricular activities, community work and leadership roles during college?
Director of professional development and utilities sector head, Georgia Tech Investments Committee; mentor, Accel Program; director of mentorship, Financial Management Association; head of recruitment, Georgia Tech Web Development Club; recruitment chair, Lambda Chi Alpha; community work for the Atlanta Financial Literacy Foundation and North Fulton Community Charities; Cornell Stock Pitch Competition, 2nd place; GT Sports Innovation Challenge, 2nd Place; CUHackit, 2020 EGHI/GT Hack COVID-19; Zell Miller Scholarship; and the Dean’s List.
Where have you interned during your college career?
Investment banking summer analyst, Citizens M&A Advisory; research analyst, Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business Financial Innovation Lab (grant to study COVID-19 effects on the Georgia economy); senior private equity analyst, Forge Partners; business analysts, eTip; business analytics intern, First Data Corporation (Fiserv).
Where will you be working after graduation?
At Credit Suisse as an investment banking analyst for their biotech group in San Francisco.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why?
One thing I would do differently in business school would have been to build a company to solve a problem. I believe Tech’s greatest asset is its students and faculty. Both resources combined allow for the ability to put together an amazing team. By building a company earlier in my Scheller career, I could have learned even more management skills while also leveraging all my coursework and professors to continually improve the business.
Which academic, extra-curricular or personal achievement are you most proud of?
The achievement I was proud of the most was my team’s second place finish in the 2020 Cornell Undergraduate Stock Pitch Competition. Working with Akash Prasad and Alexandra Buhl virtually, we had to deliver two of our best pitches on industries we were not familiar with against some of the top business schools in America. During this experience, I also contracted COVID-19 along with having multiple tests and interviews that week. Even though I had one of my hardest weeks along with having COVID-19, our team was still able to persevere and be selected 2nd place—the first time Scheller has placed as a finalist for this competition!
Which classmate do you most admire?
One classmate who has had a huge impact on me was Jason Quill. He pushed me to join the GT Investments Committee and guided me on my recruitment process throughout all of college. As a classmate, friend, and fraternity brother, Jason was always there for me, from helping me understanding financial concepts, classwork, and recruitment to being there ready to watch football games and hang out. Jason’s impact on me inspired me to become a mentor and help guide other students.
Who would you most want to thank for your success?
I would want to thank both my mom and dad for my success. Without both, I would not be where I am today. My mom’s constant pushing, amazing food, and just overall mental support have allowed me to worry very little and be proud to walk my own path. My dad’s support and conversations about finance and the world pushed me to succeed in my finance concentration and have lofty dreams. Their support and care have allowed me to put my best foot forward to succeed in college and my internships.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
Create, operate, and raise capital for a successful company with my Georgia Tech friends, and create a nonprofit to spread financial literacy and curate development among underprivileged youth and immigrants.
Fun fact about yourself:
I practice Qigong Taichi (Golden Shield).